Staying home: Argos extended Toronto native Gabriel

Staying home: Argos extended Toronto native Gabriel

Adam Gagnon

TORONTO — The Toronto Argonauts Football Club announced today that national safety Jermaine Gabriel has extended his contract with the team through 2015.

Commented Argonauts General Manager, Jim Barker, “When we drafted Jermaine Gabriel last season we expected to get an athlete who would eventually contribute to our special teams and one day work into our defence. He is a young man who grew up in Toronto and I am happy to say that his overall development as a player, and a professional, has exceeded our expectations.”

“Jermaine has already shown us that he is capable of playing at this level and we are excited to continue to track his growth as a member of the Double Blue.”

A native of Scarborough, Ontario, Gabriel became the first person in CFL history to be selected to move on from a regional combine to the national combine. The Argonauts later selected him with the 17th overall pick in 2013 CFL Draft.

Since joining Toronto, he has dressed in 28 straight regular season games and made 10 starts at safety. His career numbers include 49 defensive tackles, 26 special teams tackles and 4 QB sacks.

Commented Jermaine Gabriel, “I’m excited to sign an extension with the Argos that allows me to stay in Toronto. This is my hometown team and who doesn’t dream of playing professional football for the team they cheered for growing up? I believe the organization is headed in the right direction and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the winning culture that has already been established.”

Gabriel played 17 games over two seasons at Bishop’s University from 2009 to 2010. He went on to play for the Calgary Colts of the CJFL where he was named the 2012 Prairie Conference MVP and recorded 28 tackles and four interceptions.